Frank Lowe

Frank Lowe (June 24, 1943 – September 19, 2003) was an American avant-garde jazz saxophonist and composer.

Biography Born in Memphis, Tennessee, Lowe took up the tenor saxophone at the age of 12. As an adult he moved to San Francisco, where he met Ornette Coleman. Coleman suggested Lowe visit to New York City, which Lowe did, and he began playing with Sun Ra and then Alice Coltrane, with whom he recorded in 1971. Unusually for the jazz culture at the time, Lowe had had no extended apprenticeship or slow paying-of-dues: one moment he was an amateur, and the next he was playing with the late John Coltrane's rhythm section. With Alice Coltrane he recorded World Galaxy in 1971.

Lowe was a tenor saxophonist who was extremely influenced by the first and second waves of free jazz throughout the 1960s. His composition "Spirits in the Field" was performed on Arthur Blythe's 1977 album, The Grip.

On September 19, 2003, he died of lung cancer. His legacy was a varied body of recordings and memorable performances.

Discography As leader 1973: Duo Exchange with Rashied Ali 1973: Black Beings with Joseph Jarman, Rashid Sinan, Raymund Cheng, William Parker 1975: Fresh with Lester Bowie Joseph Bowie, Abdul Wadud, Steve Reid 1975: The Flam (Black Saint) with Joseph Bowie, Leo Smith, Alex Blake, Charles Bobo Shaw 1976: Tricks of the Trade (Marge) with Butch Morris, Didier Levallet, George Brown 1976: The Other Side (Palm) with Butch Morris, Didier Levallet, George Brown 1977: Doctor Too-Much (Kharma) with Olu Dara, Leo Smith, Phillip Wilson, Fred Williams 1977: Lowe & Behold with Joseph Bowie, Butch Morris, Arthur Williams, Billy Bang, Polly Bradfield, Eugene Chadbourne, John Lindberg, Phillip Wilson, John Zorn, Peter Kuhn 1977: Don't Punk Out with Eugene Chadbourne 1981: Skizoke with Butch Morris, Damon Choice, Larry Simon, Wilber Morris, Tim Pleasant 1981: Exotic Heartbreak (Soul Note) with Butch Morris, Amina Claudine Myers, Wilber Morris, Tim Pleasant 1982: Live from Soundscape (DIW with Lawrence Butch Morris, Amina Claudine Myers, Wilber Morris, Tim Pleasant 1983: The Jazz Doctors: Intensive Care with Rafael Garrett, Denis Charles, Billy Bang 1984: Isle in the Ocean with Billy Bang, Frank Wollny, Heinz Wollny, A. R. Penck 1984: Decision in Paradise (Soul Note) with Don Cherry, Grachan Moncur III, Geri Allen, Charnett Moffett, Charles Moffett 1991: Inappropriate Choices with James Carter, Michael Marcus, Carlos Ward, Phillip Wilson 1992: Out of Nowhere with Phillip Wilson 1995: Bodies & Soul mikt Charles Moffett, Tim Flood 1996: After the Demon's Leaving with Bernard Santacruz, Denis Charles 1997: Vision Blue with Steve Neil, Anders Griffen 1998: Soul Folks with Bertha Hope, Jack Walrath, Steve Neil, Ralph Peterson 1998: One for Jazz with Billy Bang, Ed Schuller, Abbey Rader 1999: Short Tales 2000: Don't Punk Out with Eugene Chadbourne 2002: Lowe Down & Blue with Bern Nix, Dominic Duval, Michael Carvin 2014: Out Loud (Triple Point Records) Joe Bowie, William Parker, Steve Reid (prev. unissued live & studio recordings from 1974)

As sideman With Alice Coltrane World Galaxy (Impulse!, 1972)

With Billy Bang Sweet Space (Anima, 1979) Outline No. 12 (Celluloid, 1982 ) Valve No. 10 (Soul Note, 1988) Vietnam: The Aftermath (Justin Time, 2001) Above & Beyond: An Evening in Grand Rapids (Justin Time, 2007) With Don Cherry Relativity Suite (JCOA, 1973) Brown Rice (EMI, 1975) With Joe McPhee Legend Street One (CIMP, 1996) Legend Street Two (CIMP, 1996) With Juma Sultan's Aboriginal Music Society Father of Origin (Eremite, 2011) recorded in 1970–1971